Looking great this fall

The weather here in DC has been all over the place — cold, then warm, now chilly again. This doesn’t have to be cause for alarm, though — think of it as a chance to expand the possibilities for getting dressed every day! Here are a few ways to get more mileage from your wardrobe, spending little or nothing:

1. Stock up on stockings — okay, tights. This is a fabulous year for tights in a huge variety of patterns, textures and colors. You don’t need to wear black tights and shoes or boots with your black suit. Break up the suit and add a white top and leopard-print cardigan, belted, with some gray or moro leather boots and black fishnet tights.

2. Add a necklace. The best thing you can buy this fall is a statement necklace. This need not be a big splurge — check mall chain stores for affordable options.

3. Be bold! Try new combinations and experiment with unfamiliar layers and lengths. Set aside an hour or two one weekend to pull out some of your least-worn clothes and see if you can breathe new life into them by combining them in new ways — play with color, add a belt, roll up a sleeve or undo a button (or two). One thing I’ve noticed as a theme on a great site I just discovered, Street Style News, is the interesting way women combine various lengths when they layer. Give it a try — you won’t expand your style horizon until you do.

4. Look like yourself. Identify and then showcase your best features. Your clothes should fit and they should reflect your own coloring. A rich brown purse to draw attention to your beautiful hair or a blue stone in a ring to flatter your baby blues. If your skin has warm undertones, try to wear mostly warm colors (rust, ivory, royal blue, gold, etc.) If you have lots of contrast in your coloring (black hair, pale skin) go for lots of contrast in your clothing (dalmation print, anyone?)

Sound difficult? It doesn’t have to be, especially if you have a pair of experienced eyes walking you through the process. Contact me to schedule a free get-acquainted session so we can see how I can help. (And please take a moment to subscribe to this blog.)